ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Volunteers from Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (Peter Mac) Patient Information and Support Centre (PISC) assist the Cancer Support Nurse by helping patients and families/carers find information and provide face-to-face peer support. Benefits of shared personal experiences between volunteer and patient are clearly different from professional support. Volunteers require specific skill sets and detailed preparation for this role. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Volunteers completed a 3-day training programme adapted from the Cancer Council Victoria's 'Cancer Connect Telephone Peer Support Volunteer' training programme. The focus was role expectations and boundaries for peer support volunteers, debriefing, communication skills training, support services, complementary and alternative therapies and internet information. Assessment included a quiz and observation for a range of competencies. Role-play with simulated patients developed appropriate support skills. RESULTS: Eight volunteers participated. Pre-training questionnaires revealed all volunteers highly self-rated existing skills supporting people affected by cancer. During training, volunteers recognised these skills were inadequate. All agreed that role-play using an actor as a 'simulated patient' helped develop communication skills; however, the experience proved challenging. Post-training all reported increased knowledge of role definition and boundaries, supportive communication skills, supports available for patients and families/carers and importance of self-care. Facilitators recommended seven of the eight participants be accredited PISC Peer Support Volunteers. One volunteer was assessed unsuitable for consistently overstepping the boundaries of the peer support role and withdrew from training. CONCLUSION: Success of the programme resulted in a trained 'face-to-face peer support volunteer' group better equipped for their role. Sixteen months following training, all who completed the programme remain active volunteers in the PISC. Planned educational updates include needs identified by the volunteers. The training programme would require adapting for future peer support volunteers.
Subject(s)
Cancer Care Facilities/organization & administration , Hospital Volunteers/education , Quality Assurance, Health Care , Aged , Communication , Educational Measurement , Female , Hospital Volunteers/organization & administration , Hospital Volunteers/standards , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasms/psychology , Neoplasms/therapy , Patient Simulation , Peer Group , Pilot Projects , Program Evaluation , Role Playing , Social SupportABSTRACT
Introducción: los pacientes y familiares en Cuidados Paliativos, además de las necesidades vitales básicas, tienen otras necesidades personales y psicosociales. El voluntario en Cuidados Paliativos debe complementarla labor de los profesionales cubriendo estas necesidades, logrando así el mayor bienestar y asegurando la mejor calidad de vida al enfermo. El voluntario es por tanto una pieza decisiva. Objetivo: establecer un plan estratégico consensuado entre diversas entidades para desarrollar un voluntariado en Cuidados Paliativos de alta calidad. Método: se realizó revisión bibliográfica, consulta jurídica especializada, creación de un grupo nominal y validación de acuerdos. Resultados: en relación a la búsqueda bibliográfica finalmente se seleccionaron 18 artículos para su completa lectura. En la consulta jurídica especializada, se encontraron diversos documentos publicados por el Estado Español, Comunidades Autónomas u otros organismos nacionales e internacionales. En la creación del grupo nominal, se eligieron 9 representantes de 8 asociaciones y del Programa Regional de Cuidados Paliativos de Extremadura que estaban dispuestas a participar en el plan del voluntariado. Tras múltiples reuniones se estableció un plan consensuado con 13 objetivos y 18 acciones. Conclusiones: el voluntariado es una vía adecuada para complementar el cuidado y apoyo de los pacientes en fase terminal. En Extremadura, se ha desarrollado un plan con diferentes acciones en el que han participado distintas asociaciones y la administración sanitaria (AU)
Background: Besides basic and vital needs, patients and their families have other personal and psychosocial requirements. Thus, palliative care volunteers must complement professional work by covering these necessities -providing well-being and assuring the best quality of life. A volunteer is therefore a pivotal part in the process. Objective: To establish a consensus strategic plan amongst various organizations for the development of high-quality volunteering. Method: A literature analysis, questions to lawyers, creation of a nominal group, and validation of agreements made. Results: Eighteen articles were selected for complete reading after a bibliographical search. Several documents published by the Spanish State, Spanish Regions, and National or International organisms were found by lawyers. Regarding the formalization of the nominal group, 9 representatives of 8 associations and the Regional Program of Palliative Care of Extremadura were included, and they agreed in participating in volunteering planning. After several meetings a consensus plan was designed including 13 objectives and 18 actions. Conclusions: Volunteering is a suitable way to complement care and support for end-stage patients. In Extremadura a plan with different actions has been developed. Different associations and the Healthcare Administration participated in its development (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Hospital Volunteers/organization & administration , Terminally Ill/psychology , Home Care Services, Hospital-Based , Hospital Volunteers/standards , Terminally Ill/legislation & jurisprudence , Home Care Services, Hospital-Based/organization & administration , Quality of Life , Health Services Needs and DemandSubject(s)
Accreditation/standards , Credentialing/standards , Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations , Personnel Administration, Hospital/standards , Personnel, Hospital/standards , Clinical Competence , Guidelines as Topic , Health Services Accessibility , Hospital Volunteers/standards , Humans , Manuals as Topic , United StatesABSTRACT
In the United States, volunteer services are mandated by hospice Medicare guidelines; volunteers provide a very valuable service to patients, families, and other members of the interdisciplinary team. A hospice junior volunteer program can engage teens in the care of the dying in our communities. This article describes the development and implementation of a junior volunteer program at St. Thomas Hospice in Hinsdale, Illinois.
Subject(s)
Hospice Care , Hospital Volunteers , Terminal Care , Adolescent , Age Factors , Hospice Care/standards , Hospital Volunteers/standards , Humans , Illinois , Program Evaluation , Terminal Care/standards , WorkforceSubject(s)
Awards and Prizes , Hospital Volunteers/standards , American Hospital Association , Audiometry , Community Health Services/organization & administration , Community Health Services/standards , Cooperative Behavior , Fund Raising/organization & administration , Fund Raising/standards , Hearing Disorders/diagnosis , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Infant, Newborn, Diseases/diagnosis , Organizational Innovation , United StatesSubject(s)
Awards and Prizes , Hospital Volunteers/standards , American Hospital Association , Community Health Services/organization & administration , Community Health Services/standards , Community-Institutional Relations/standards , Florida , Fund Raising/organization & administration , Fund Raising/standards , Georgia , Hospitals, Community/organization & administration , Hospitals, Community/standards , United StatesABSTRACT
Part 1 of this article examines ways to measure the performance of fund development programs. Part 2, which will appear in the AHP Fall journal, will provide additional tools for demonstrating the efficiency, effectiveness, and profitability of these same fund development programs.
